Global humid tropics forest structural condition and forest structural integrity maps.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Remote Sensing
• Conservation Science

Background:

• Global forest extent maps are crucial for conservation but lack forest quality data.
• Biodiversity and ecosystem services depend on forest quality, not just extent.
• There is a global need for data on forest quality for conservation planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce novel data products to assess forest quality globally.
• Develop indices to identify structurally complex, intact forests.
• Support conservation efforts by prioritizing "best of the last" forest stands.

Main Methods:

• Developed the Forest Structural Condition Index (SCI) integrating canopy height, tree cover, and time since disturbance.
• Validated SCI using airborne lidar-derived foliage height diversity estimates.
• Created the Forest Structural Integrity Index (FSII) by overlaying human pressure data onto SCI.

Main Results:

• The SCI effectively distinguishes primary forest characteristics from degraded stands.
• The FSII identifies structurally complex forests with minimal human pressure.
• These indices provide a global assessment of forest structural condition and integrity.

Conclusions:

• The SCI and FSII address the critical need for global forest quality data.
• These products advance conservation from focusing solely on extent to prioritizing forest quality.
• The indices are vital for identifying and protecting biodiversity hotspots and ecosystem services.